By Yvonne Mayhew

Although my hand won't hold the pen
My legs won't move as well as when
Thoughts appear, my mind is clear
Not another living soul is here

Memories linger now they're gone
Time passes quickly it won't be long
We're on the same path after all
We'll need each other as we fall

The good die young or so they say
Thoughts of loved ones passed away
I miss them sometimes so you see
They save a seat at their table for me

This disease is sometimes hard to bear
Most people don't know or even care
I'm locked in a body that does not perform
To my standard of quality and so I am torn

I'm caught between a life or not
Where medication calls the shot
Sometimes I feel I've lost control
Of how to care for this weakened soul

My body used to glide and flow
Now rigid and bent it moves so slow
What once took seconds to be done
A tedious chore it has become

Life is returning now you see
The meds are working I soon will be
Able to move again for a little while
Speeding at times in a peculiar style

Out of control till the next pills are due
Then I'll probably wear down a peg or two
Constantly waiting for anxiety to subside
Longing for peace from this roller coaster ride

When the going gets rough I try to keep going
On the outside smiling but inside knowing
That my quality of life this will surely affect
As I lay here and wonder how bad it will get

We take it for granted just what we can lose
How important it is the ability to move
A decade has passed as I watch my decline
No cure is in sight will I run out of time

Yes it's true we all have our crosses to bear
Feelings of helplessness abundant out there
We have to keep going the best that we can
For this life is a test that deals us a hand

At times I see clearly this path that I travel
As a new day begins and starts to unravel
The highs and the lows will begin very soon
And I'll once again pull myself up to resume
As I wait while the moments of clarity loom.

Yvonne Mayhew
August 2nd, 2010

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